I've found myself really enjoying films that are based, at least in part, during the big band era. I see that this period of time is usually listed as being from 1935 to 1945, but I'm also talking about the periods both before and after that. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, just that feel, the music, the style.

What films of this sort could you recommend to me? Keep in mind I'm not only talking about films that were released during this period of time, but also the ones from any year, that is simply based in that time.

and

SUN VALLEY SERENADE has some great Glenn Miller footage,you can catch it on tcm once in a while..

As a drummer, I have a bunch of dvds of Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Louie Bellson, Ed Shaunnessey and others live in concert. Hudson Music has a bunch of old great big band preformances.

http://www.hudsonmusic.com/

Thanks for the suggestions so far, keep em coming guys!

I just watched the recently released 'Racing with the Moon', and it has a fantastic big band score, with some wonderful original music by Dave Grusin as well. It takes place during the WWII era. The sound on the DVD is terrific...a modified Dolby 5.1 track. Aside from all that, it's just a good film, with probably Sean Penn's best performance.

It also has some interesting extras about the making of the film, done by the great Laurent Bouzereau, of course.

While the dialog is cheesy (trying to be hep) and the story is loosely based on facts, the music in The Benny Goodman Story is top notch.

The Gene Krupa Story with Sal Mineo just came out (or was just announced). http://imdb.com/title/tt0052840/?fr=...fc=2;ft=5;fm=1

1941!

The Gang's All Here is enjoyable nonsense, and features performances by the Benny Goodman orchestra, including Benny's vocal(!) on "You Can't Pooh-Pooh Paducah", a song as ridiculous as its title.

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to be available on home video in any format. I saw an excellent, brand-new-looking print of this gaudy Technicolor film back in the 1980s (I believe Fox had restored/revived it and was touring it around the art houses) so there should be good elements available.

It's been a while since I've seen them but I believe Glenn Miller has pretty substantial acting roles in Orchestra Wives and Sun Valley Serenade (noted earlier in the thread) and I believe that both feature his band (of course he plays a musician/bandleader in both). These two are VHS only for now.

That's Right - You're Wrong (1939)